He was rather fond of her, yet the greatest wish he had in the world was to break it off.

When with her he felt himself to be at once a criminal and a benefactor, a sinner and a saint.
Theoretically, theatrically, and perhaps conventionally, his relations with her constituted him the villain of the piece.

Yet he behaved to her more like Don Quixote than Don Juan....
* * * * * One afternoon about four o'clock--he was expecting her--Vincy had arranged an elaborate tea on his little green marble dining-table.
Everything was there that she liked.

She was particularly attached to scones; he also had cream-cakes, sandwiches, sweets, chocolate and strawberries.

As he heard the well-known slightly creaking step, his heart began to beat loudly--quick beats.